SUNDAY LECTURES. - DR. E. B. AVELING, of London, delivered a lecture in the
Noble Temple, Aspatria, on Sunday afternnon entitled "Matter, Motion, and
Mind". This was the second time this able exponent of science has lectured
at Aspatria, and on both occasions there were very large audiences. MR.
JAMES POOL presided. The lecturer was received with much enthusiasm, and
the lecture was frequently applauded during its delivery.
For over an hour DR. AVELING held his audience spell bound with clear
and well defined definitions of the various effects and products. He
defined matter to be that which affects the senses; and its motion the
change of place. Heat and light and sound were all forms of motion. From
this he proceeded with the motions of brain and nerve matter.
He argued that mind was not an entity, but a function of the body or of
the brain. The connections between mind and matter he proved conclusively,
showing how any change in brain matter, affected the mind, and how injury to
the brain was followed by injury to the mind.
The various sizes and weights of the brains of men and women and apes
were minutely dealt with; showing the difference between the highest and
lowest specimens of human beings to be greater than the difference between
the lowest specimens of human beings and apes.

The average weight of a man's brain was 49 ounces; of a woman's 42 ounces.
Less than 40 ounces and men were idiots, while the average weight of an
ape's brain was from 14 to 16 ounces. These being the averages, some of the
higher order of apes exceeded by a long way many of the lower types of
humanity.
A similar average of brain matter was found by measurement, as was
clearly shown by PROFESSORS OWEN, TYLER and MARSHALL.

Mind, he argued, could have no separate existence from the body, but was
purely the result of certain actions of the nerve and brain matter.

At the conclusion of the lecture MR. DR. SCOTT (Baptist Evangelist), asked a
few questions of the lecturer, and made a few remarks in opposition to some
of the statements made. MR. JOSEPH ROSS, of Maryport, moved a vote of
thanks to DR. AVELING, which was seconded b y MR. J. HOPE, of Parsonby, and
heartily accorded. A similar vote to the chairman concluded the meeting.
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